Miestlaukis Mound, also known as Juodupė or Napoleon Hill, is an impressive witness to history, where the Jotvingians, Nadruvians, Skalvians, and possibly Aukštaitians could defend themselves from enemy forces. The mound is in the Vilkaviškis district, just 1.5 km southwest of Kudirkos Naumiestis, on the right bank of the Širvinta River, near the confluence with the old Juodupė riverbed. It is surrounded by marshy meadows and stream valleys, and a moat separates it from the southern side.
The mound’s platform is oval-shaped, measuring 100 meters in length and up to 50 meters in width, with traces of fortifications still visible today. Artifacts from the 13th–14th centuries have been discovered here, including remnants of a wooden castle, hearths, decorated pottery, arrowheads, and throwing spear tips. A unique pottery kiln was also found, marking the first such discovery in Lithuanian mounds, associated with the Scandinavian Peninsula.
It is believed that the wooden castle on the hill was destroyed by the Crusaders in the first half of the 14th century. Visiting this site, one can feel the surrounding wild nature and the spirit of historical memory, accompanied by stories of tribes, battles, and the everyday life of the inhabitants.
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